Encapsulant of CdTe boules for multiblade wafering

Abstract

A cadmium telluride boule encapsulated with an encapsulant material consisting of about 80% by volume of powdered beta-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate, about 20% by volume of powdered alpha-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate and water. This specially encapsulated boule can then be sawn with a multiblade wafering apparatus used to simultaneously saw the boule into multiple substrate wafers.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or right is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A process for preparing a boule of crystalline cadmium telluride for multiblade sawing into wafers by encapsulating the boule, comprising the steps of: determining the (III) orientation of a single crystal within a cadmium telluride boule;   orienting the boule within a mold so that the boule can be cut along the (III) plane;   filling the mold with a casting mixture of β-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate and α-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate and water; and,   curing the casting mixture to encapsulate and support the boule wherein, the hardness of the cured mixture has about the same cutting rate as the cutting rate of the cadmium telluride boule.   
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the casting mixture by volume is about 80% beta-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate and about 20% alpha-phase calcium sulfate hemihydrate.